American Prayer (Bono song)

"American Prayer" is a 2003 song co-written by Bono of U2, Dave Stewart of the Eurythmics, and Pharrell.

The song, which "reflects the ... hope that America, and American Christians in particular, will respond to the AIDS crisis", was during his Heart of America tour. According to Bono, he hopes that the United States, "with its unparalleled economic, technological, military, and cultural power, will rethink its humble origins, the purpose that made it great." [cite news
url=http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2003/march/2.38.html
title=Bono's American Prayer
author=Cathleen Falsani
date=March 1, 2003
publisher=Christianity Today
accessdate=2008-08-25] Bono also called it a "paean to America" based on the "poetry of the Declaration of Independence and the taut truth in the Constitution", as well as "The New Colossus", the poem written by Emma Lazarus for the Statue of Liberty. [cite news
url=http://www.usatoday.com/life/2002-12-03-bono-usat_x.htm
title=Bono explores poetry of America while promoting AIDS awareness
author=Mark Memmott
date=December 3, 2002
publisher=USA Today
accessdate=2008-08-25]

A live performance was given by Bono, The Edge, Beyoncé, and Stewart on November 29, 2003.

The song was the final song performed by the final six contestants on Idol Gives Back on April 25, 2007. Bono directed the group and spoke to the audience about the ONE Campaign. [cite news
url=http://www.realitytvworld.com/news/american-idol-top-6-finalists-all-remain-safe-as-idol-gives-back-5079.php
title=American Idol's Top 6 finalists all remain safe as 'Idol Gives Back'
author=Christopher Rocchio
date=April 26 2007
publisher=realitytvworld.com
accessdate=2008-08-26]

In 2008, Dave Stewart reworked the song after concluding that Barack Obama represented "the embodiment of a new anthem for change", seeing him as the continuation of the work of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.. Stewart did not see the song as an endorsement as much as "a celebration of all those who have picked up a sign, who have registered to vote and are working to make the world a better place". He produced a music video with a number of other celebrities, releasing it on YouTube and Huffington Post on August 21, 2008 just prior to the Democratic National Convention, 2008. Fans were invited to remix the video and submit it to a website. [cite news
url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dave-stewart/an-anthem-for-change_b_120514.html
title=Exclusive Premiere: An Anthem For Change
author=Dave Stewart
date=August 21 2008
publisher=Huffington Post
accessdate=2008-08-26]

See also

* Yes We Can, song and video by will.i.am supporting Obama

References

External links

*
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVi4rUzf-0Q Official video] (2008 Obama version)
* [http://myamericanprayer.com/ MyAmericanPrayer.com] , official website of 2008 version